Overview

The epitome of diesel Luxury. The new A8 L sets new benchmark in the uber-luxury segment. And now with a diesel engine, the appeal of the car has gone up further. But is it better than the competition.

What we have here is the very epitome of European luxury. The flagship models from the top three German luxury car makers in India. We have in alphabetical order the Audi A8, the BMW 7-series and the Mercedes-Benz S-class. But, sharing the same sense of magnificence side, all three are powered by similarly sized diesel engines. hat you also need to know is hat the A8 is the newest here. The 7-series has been around for two years, and the S-class for even longer. Given that these represent the very best in technological advancement for each of their makers, the Audi must have an advantage for being the newest. Our task though is to see, if that’s good nough to make the A8 the one to lust after.

The three cars couldn’t be visually more distinct. Each has its own charm. The S-class for instance might look a tad jaded in terms of design in this company, but there’s still no denying that when it comes to class, poise and striking the right balance between being noticeable and discreet at the same time, the Merc has no equal. The 7-series s just too brash. It’s not pretty. Neither is it sporty, but yes, it ertainly draws attention. Quite like the mafia boss.

Exterior & Interior

The A8 interiors set new benchmark not just in terms of quality, but also ook and feel. Every material on board, wood, metal or plastic reeks of quality. Clocks look handsome too

Clearly, the A8 is better looking than the 7-series.

The A8 mean while seems to try too hard. With its LED lamps, its large grille and a classic tance, it looks attractive and appealing, no doubt, but one just feels it could have done with a little less bling, especially for the segment it operates in. It just seems to fit the young billionaire’s image more.

Inside, the feel of opulence is equally matched in all three cars. It’s the same for quality of materials, the fit and finish and feeling of space. It’s impossible to select the best in this regard. But yes, when one begins to look closely, the three follow different design directions. The S is discreet and looks to be lagging behind, the A8 overtly bright and in your face, and the 7-series some where in the middle. But between the three, we’d choose the Audi mainly for its attention to detail. Also, it’s possible to find areas where BMW and Mercedes have cut corners, but on the Audi, every such attempt seemed futile. The A8 also leaves you with the impression that it is the most exquisitely crafted.

What we also have are models sporting a lot of optional equipment. So, all three cars get adjustable rear seats, rear entertainment package and of course lots of leg and kneeroom. There’s also very little to choose between the three in terms of rear seat comfort, but yes, the Mercedes still reigns supreme ver the other two in terms of rear seat comfort; it’s the most accommodating and comfortable. Ergonomically though, all three are early spot on, again.

BMW's insides are plush and solid but cannot match the richness and appeal of the Audi.

when it comes to driving pleasure, the BMW has more soul.

The similarities between the three cars just don’t seem to end. The engines too are very similar on paper. All three cars get current day diesel engines which are quiet, refined and decently potent for both city and highways use. All three are equipped with automatic gearboxes, and all Three are packed with driver aids to the hilt.

In the real world though, the BMW and the Audi are a step ahead of the Mercedes when it comes to driving feel. The Mercedes is squishy and a tadvague compared to the other two. It’s of course the easiest and most comfortable to drive thanks to its light controls and very good visibility. But, just don’t push it too hard.

If on the rare occasion you do drive these cars, and rarer still, decide to push them hard, you’d want the Audi. It’s not as lithe as the BMW and neither does it shrink around you like the 7-series, but with all wheel drive and a road hugging drive, it’s clearly the best equipped to handle the twisties at a relatively fast pace.

S-class interiors have a stately charm, but look dated and basic in this company. Clocks are an all graphic affair.

The A8 and the S-class might have 3-litre diesel engines, but both on paper and in the real world, the Audi noses ahead in terms of performance

But, the main reason to buy any of these cars apart from the huge snob value that comes as standard, is comfort. Comfort that comes with the various gadgets on board and of course, comfort that comes with acres of space and absolute opulence. In that sense, it’s the Audi again that steals a march over the other two. It just has a lot more options to choose from. But of course, it all comes at a price.

As far as standard equipment goes, seats and space on all three give you no reason to complain. But, between the three, the S-class and the7-series offer similar kneeroom while the Audi offers less. As far as headroom is concerned, the S-class is clearly better. But thanks to the width of the new A8 it has both more shoulder room at the rear and more elbow room up front.

In terms of ride, the difference again isn’t earth shattering. But yes, the S-class does offer the most comfortable ride. Both the A8 and the 7-series aren’t uncomfortable, but while the mercedes simply glides over most surfaces, there’s an underlying tiffness both in terms of feel and oise that can be felt and heard on the Audi and the BMW.

Engine & Gearbox

Audi A8 diesel V6 is the most powerful but is also most thirsty.

BMW 7-Series Inline 6 diesel is refined and matches the Audi's performance

Mercedes-Benz S-Class is down on performance, but makes it up with its efficiency.

Dimension

Audi A8(mm)
Audi has the least rear kneeroom, but is wide which gives it the volume.	Audi's boot might not be as big as the S-class' on paper, but is more usable.
BMW 7-Series (mm)
The BMW is as roomy as the S-class but is easier to get in and out of.	7-series' 500-litre boot is both smallest on paper and in the real world.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class(mm)
The S though has the largest, mos comfy rear seats.	S has the biggest boot on paper, but the fridge robs it of usable space.

Scorecard & Verdict

Audi A8 - Its modern appeal, its outstanding feel of luxury, and its fitness of purpose, help the A8 win.

BMW 7-Series- The BMW isn't far behind, and has its pluses, but it lacks the same sense of occasion as the Audi.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class- There's not much you can fault with the S-class, but yes, it just feels a little dated in this company.

Scorecard

Body: Well, the three cars are so close in every aspect, it's not surprising to see there's just two point separating the three under this head. The Audi might not have as much room at the front as the BMW and the Mercedes, but it feels roomy and has the most usable boot in terms of fitting in luggage.

Drive: Here again, the difference between the best and worst is just two points. The Merc might be the slowest and its gearbox the least appealing, but it makes up for these defi cits with its fuel economy. It also has the highest range. As for the Audi and the BMW, these are equally matched in most aspects.

Comfort: Comfortable and luxurious are what these cars are designed to be. And that just one point separates the three is a good indication of how well these serve this particular purpose. The Merc, in addition, has the best ride, but loses out on handling compared to the other two.

Dynamics: When it comes to dynamics, the S-class was never going to top the charts. But that it comes so close is quite a feat. However, the pick of the lot in terms of dynamics is the Audi. The BMW is just a point behind though and that's down to a longer stopping distance.

Cost: All cars cost close to a crore for the loaded versions on test here. And all three have similar 2-year and unlimited kilometre warranties as well. It's just the Mercedes' better brand recall and value that gives it two extra points under the Cost head.

Verdict

You can’t go wrong with any of these cars. They are all great at what they set of out to achieve – to give their occupants a luxurious, hassle free and comfortable ride. But given our testcars, each with different levels of options, the Audi emerges as the best fit. It has inherent advantages over the other two, like the feel of quality, better driving dynamics, a more intuitive system interface and also offers more elaborate options for those with the money to properly indulge themselves. Our take; buy the A8L 3.0TDI.